Three Coins in a Fountain and a Janell

Three Coins in a Fountain and a Janell

Have you ever made a wish by tossing a coin into a fountain? There are famous fountains all over the world people have traveled to, for the sole purpose of throwing in a coin while simultaneously making a wish, hoping that wish will come true. One of the most famous fountains is the Trevi Fountain in Rome, a fountain that gained international attention with 20th Century Fox’s release of the movie called ‘Three Coins in a Fountain’, filmed in Rome in 1954. That movie revolved around three female-roommates who all tossed coins into the Trevi Fountain, hoping to find love. Although I have never seen the movie (but I will watch it now lol) the film’s legacy has become part of the history while visiting Trevi Fountain. When I was in Rome, I remember my tour guide pointing out to me—not only the historic significance of the very famous fountain—but also the fact that the famed film, ‘Three Coins in a Fountain’, was filmed there.

As a child, I remember tossing coins into a well on my farm, making grandiose wishes, expecting miracles to happen. Unfortunately for me, not one of my wishes was ever granted—the only result being a dwindled allowance short a few cents. Now that I think about it, not only were my well-wishes never granted, I don’t think that anything has ever transpired from one of the wishes I made after blowing out my candles on my birthday cake either. Maybe I am not a good wish maker? Regardless, I don’t think my lack of successful fountain-coin-tossing and cake-blowing wishes will result in a hopeless Janell. I still hold the fairytale-like belief that someday my Prince will come and that, if I desire something, I can manifest it. I guess no one ever told me that the manifestation would happen through hard work, and the magic in miracles comes from perseverance, effort and well, luck.

However, there is an undeniable beauty to a fountain, and there is something sweet about making a wish, to put a positive vibe out into the universe. Perhaps just taking the time to think about what you want, or the kindness in sending a heartful wish for another, might be all the magic that one needs to start to make the wish materialize. After all, everything is just energy in motion, so perhaps positive thoughts can actually manifest into reality?

Well, you can imagine my surprise, when I stumbled upon my very own Roman ‘Trevi-esque’ Fountain right in the heart of Beverly Hills. In between Crescent Drive and Rexford, just south of Burton Way, is an historic office building with a beautifully designed green space, complete with Roman Columns, and a magnificent round fountain whose basin is scattered with coins from local fountain-wishers.

How did I stumble upon this Roman magnificence in LA?

One night my girlfriend and I were walking home from a party on Rodeo Drive. It was a warm summer evening so we decided to walk the mile home as a refreshing alternative to crawling into the backseat of an Uber. As we were walking up Crescent drive, I noticed a small green space just before Burton Way, and I reasoned we could likely cut through it and save a bit of time. I never imagined that I would stumble upon a magical Roman enclave in the heart of Beverly Hills. The fountain had small lights illuminating it in the dark, and the columns were lit from below, making the overall feeling magical, to say the least. I couldn’t believe that I had been walking beside this little-hidden gem of architecture and beauty, not having ever ventured down the pathway before.

As we stood around marveling at the beauty we had discovered, I noticed that the water took on a turquoise color at night. Now, as it turns out, when I wear something turquoise, my eyes pop. So, I decided that maybe it would be fun to get some pictures of me by the fountain for my blog. My girlfriend, of course, obliged, and we snapped an assortment of Janell-Turquoise-Fountain shots before I decided that it might be fun to get some of me walking on the edge of the fountain.

Side note here…

I think it is important to mention before I continue that I had consumed alcohol at the party; in fact, I am sure I had enjoyed a couple of yummy cocktails, making my ‘walking on the edge of the fountain’ suggestion seem to make sense to both myself and my friend, who had also enjoyed her cocktails that evening.

Okay, so back to the story…

As I was standing on the ledge, trying to look as cute as I could, while simultaneously capturing the beauty of the turquoise water enhanced by the magic of the lights at night, and as I took one step forward, like a gymnast on a balance beam toes pointed and heels up in the air, with my arms to the side feeling full of elegance and grace, it should come as no surprise to you that, within seconds, my balance-beam move resulted in a faux-pas, and I fell sideways and plopped into the fountain.

One minute poised and pretty, the next second completely submerged in stinky, slimy fountain water. My friend gasped and said, “Oh my God Janell, are you okay?”

Well, I was okay. I was very lucky. I hadn’t hit my head or broken a bone when I fell. However, I was completely one hundred percent soaked, and the romper I was wearing had absorbed the fountain water at a record speed. My romper clung to my body like a wetsuit; imagine a wetsuit that was actually soaked and stuck to your skin. I was embarrassed, and I had no means to dry myself off, so a sopping and water-saturated me climbed out of the fountain, and we started to walk in the direction of the street.

I decided now was the time to call an Uber, and when our Uber arrived—after about 7 minutes of us waiting while my teeth chattered and I shook like a damp leaf—imagine the horror of the Uber driving pulling up, and noticing that I was dripping wet, declined me a ride. I tried to plead with him that it was only water, but he raced off before we could jump into his car.

So, I had to endure walking home, one mile in the dark, in soaking wet, slimy, and stinky clothes. I was freezing cold, and I remember feeling ever so grateful when the key to my front door finally unlocked me back into the safety of my home; the warmth of a warm shower, and my clothes haven been thrown in the wash for the night.

You know, now that I think of it, I should have made a ‘Janell wish’ when I was in the fountain. Who knows how much positive energy could have been emitted from the tossing of a human as opposed to a simple coin into a fountain? I guess I will never know. But for my friends out there who know me, I am sure you are not surprised to read this story. It really is just another dumb-ass Sagittarian klutz Janell move, moves I have been making since I was a kid.